Fortune announces the top 500 global brands every year by selecting them based on performance in areas such as sales and operating profit from the previous year. POSCO ranked 161^st, 146^th, 167^th, 177^th, 162^nd each year since 2011, and 173^rd this year.

This is the result of the company furthering their technological developments and creating profits through cost reduction and innovation projects, all despite the global steel crisis that has continued for years.

Among the global steelmakers, ArcelorMittal ranked 123^rd, NSSMC 238^th, and Baoshan steel 275^th.

Meanwhile, U.S. company Walmart has been ranked number one for three consecutive years, with Exxon Mobil, Volkswagen, Toyota and Apple also being included in the top 10 list. Along with POSCO, a total of 15 Korean companies including Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motors were included in the 500 companies listed. The number of Chinese companies in the list has been steadily increasing from 95 in 2013 to 110 this year.

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 Pictured here: The first production using eco-friendly FINEX method at POSCO’s plant

For the 11^th consecutive year, POSCO has been named one of the ‘Most Respected Companies in Korea’ by the Korean Management Association Consultants (KMAC).  POSCO topped the list in the steel industry category for its 11^th straight year. In addition, POSCO ranked second in the overall ‘All Star Company’ category for 8 straight years. The ‘Most Respected Companies in Korea’ ranking is the only comprehensive survey model in Korea and was developed in 2004 by KMAC to evaluate and publish the value of Korean companies.

Lessons from one of Korea’s most respected companies

The importance of corporate reputation has achieved all-time highs nowadays. POSCO was recognized on this year’s Interbrand’s Best Korean Brands list for its second consecutive year. It must be doing something right.  A great company does not just excel because of its products, but because of its values and other initiatives. Fortune annually publishes its World’s Most Admired Companies list  and 100 Best Companies to Work For list to distinguish the best from the rest. What lessons can be learned from Korea’s leading steelmaker?

POSCO was highly rated for its CSR activities, reliability, values, talent fostering, employee welfare, and eco-friendly management in addition to ethical management. It also gained recognition as Korea`s leading company in fulfilling social responsibilities through internal activities, resulting in increased profitability and decreased production costs, volunteer activities with all employees participating, 1% sharing activities for the socially disadvantaged, and support for multi-cultural families.

Pictured here: POSCO’s women employees participating in Women’s Mentoring Day, held since 2011

 Pictured here: Joint effort between POSCO’s global volunteering program, Beyond, and Habitat for Humanity

Methodology

The ‘All Star Companies’ category includes the 30 most respected Korean companies regardless of industry and is based on a survey of 5,920 industry officers, 230 securities company analysts, and 4,560 general consumers between  October 2^nd, 2013 through January 6^th, 2014. Companies are surveyed based on the following six factors:

1)     Innovation capability

2)     Shareholder value

3)     Employee value

4)     Customer value

5)     Social value

6)     Image value

See below for the 2014 top 10 ‘All Star Companies’ list:

1.     Samsung Electronics

2.     POSCO

3.     Yuhan-Kimberly

4.     Yuhan Corporation

5.     Hyundai Motors

6.     Incheon International Airport

7.     SK Telecom

8.     LG Electronics

9.     Samsung C&T

10.  Samsung Life